Key result
The Great East Japan Earthquake significantly increased the monthly number of patients with defibrillators experiencing tachyarrhythmias from 28±5 to 34±3 patients/month.
Why the study?
Does a major earthquake disaster increase the incidence of tachyarrhythmias and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with implanted cardiac devices?
Observational (n=189)
No
Does a major earthquake disaster increase the incidence of tachyarrhythmias and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with implanted cardiac devices?
Major natural disasters like earthquakes are associated with a significant increase in tachyarrhythmias and heart failure hospitalizations among patients with implanted cardiac devices.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant post-disaster vigilance in device patients; hypothesis-generating for preparedness strategies.
BACKGROUND: After the East Japan Earthquake disaster there may have been a deterioration of patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the data from 189 consecutive patients implanted with cardiovascular devices for the 6-month period before and after the Earthquake. In 170 patients with defibrillators, the number who experienced tachyarrhythmias increased significantly after the Earthquake (28 ± 5 vs. 34 ± 3 patients/month, P<0.05). In 74 patients with biventricular pacemakers, the number of heart failure hospitalizations significantly increased after the Earthquake (1.2 ± 1.0 vs. 2.7 ± 1.2 patients/month, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The East Japan Earthquake disaster unfavorably affected patients implanted with defibrillators or biventricular pacemakers.
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Nakano et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Implanted cardiac devices (ICD or CRT) (n=189). Great East Japan Earthquake vs. 6-month period before the Earthquake was evaluated on Number of patients experiencing tachyarrhythmias per month (p=<0.05). The Great East Japan Earthquake significantly increased the monthly number of patients with defibrillators experiencing tachyarrhythmias from 28±5 to 34±3 patients/month.
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